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A-Rod cleared to DH, nearing return to field

A-Rod cleared to DH, nearing return to field

Alex Rodriguez

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TORONTO -- Alex Rodriguez's sore left foot limited him to designated-hitter duty on Thursday night as the Yankees opened a four-game series at Rogers Centre, but he is expected to soon return to playing the field.

Yankees manager Joe Girardi suggested that Rodriguez could get back to playing third base as soon as Friday, though the Yankees want to be cautious about pushing the injury too much on the dome's artificial turf.

"We'll see," Rodriguez said after going 0-for-2 with a walk and a hit by pitch in the Yankees' 6-0 loss to the Blue Jays. "We'll see how this thing wakes up and talk to Joe tomorrow."

Rodriguez bruised the top of his foot on a foul tip in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to the Twins and said that it stiffened up after the game. He is 1-for-16 with six strikeouts in his last four games, and Girardi said that the Yankees need his performance to improve.

"We do need to get him going," Girardi said. "When he's rolling, our lineup can be really potent."

Rodriguez said that his recent skid has not increased any feelings of anxiety as the Yankees attack their last six games of the regular season.

"Our objective is, we don't care who does it, we just want to win games," Rodriguez said. "Swing at strikes, and if they don't pitch to us, pass the baton to the next guy. We have to trust our nine-man lineup; it's not tennis or golf. Our job here is to take what they give us, take small bites, and take it from there."